How to Apply to Aga Khan University's BS in Arts and Sciences in Pakistan: Last Date 12 January 2027
Apply to Aga Khan University's BS in Arts and Sciences by 12 January 2027. See the 70 per cent rule, Accuplacer or SAT choice, fees and the 30 January test.
Aga Khan University is taking applications for its four year Bachelor of Studies (BS) in Arts and Sciences until 12 January 2027. Apply online at aku.edu/apply-online. The early bird application fee is Rs 9,000 if you apply by 10 December 2026, and Rs 15,000 after that. The AKU admission test is on Saturday 30 January 2027.
You need at least 70 per cent overall in both SSC and HSSC, and at least 65 per cent in English. There are no subject rules, so a pre-medical, pre-engineering, commerce or arts student can all apply. We read AKU's admissions pages, key dates page, admission booklet and fee sheet on 14 October 2026.
The application window runs from 6 September 2026 to 12 January 2027
AKU accepts applications for the BS in Arts and Sciences from 6 September 2026 to 12 January 2027. The early bird fee of Rs 9,000 applies until 10 December 2026. From 11 December the fee is Rs 15,000. Both amounts are for applicants from Pakistan.
The programme sits in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. It is a four year degree that mixes humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. AKU lists four parts: a core curriculum, experiential learning, interdisciplinary majors and a senior capstone project. Classes start in July 2027.
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 6 September 2026 |
| Early bird fee (Rs 9,000) ends | 10 December 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 12 January 2027 |
| AKU admission test | Saturday 30 January 2027 |
| SAT score submission | 19 March 2027 |
| Interviews | March 2027 |
| First offers | End of April 2027 |
| Classes begin | July 2027 |
You need 70 per cent overall and 65 per cent in English
AKU asks for an overall aggregate of 70 per cent in both Matriculation (SSC) and Higher Secondary (HSSC), with at least 65 per cent in English in each. Half a mark or more is rounded up. There are no subject requirements for this programme.
If you sit your HSSC exams in summer 2027, you can still apply. AKU treats such applications as provisional. You must then show your final result by the date it sets. If your final marks fall under 70 per cent, AKU lists three choices: reappear in the next sitting, defer for one semester, or withdraw and reapply next cycle. It says no appeal applies if you still miss the mark.
For O and A Levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB) and other foreign school systems, you need an equivalence certificate from the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) showing 70 per cent overall. Pakistani nationals who sit O and A Levels in Pakistan must have Urdu, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies. Start the certificate early. Our guide on the documents IBCC needs for grades 9 to 12 shows what to prepare, and the rules on compulsory subjects for O and A Level equivalence explain the subject check.
The Accuplacer test or the SAT is your entry ticket
Every eligible applicant writes the AKU admission test, which uses the Accuplacer format: English as a Second Language, quantitative reasoning, algebra and statistics. You can send an SAT I score instead. AKU asks for at least 600 in Math and 600 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
AKU accepts SAT scores taken between February 2025 and February 2027 for the 2027 cycle. It is the only way to skip the Accuplacer, so check your dates. AKU says it does not run test preparation courses and does not endorse any outside class. The test centres are listed in the online application form.
Selection has two stages. In stage one you apply and sit the test. In stage two, shortlisted candidates attend two separate interviews and send official transcripts. AKU says it looks at academic results, the test, interviews and signs of leadership. Passing the minimum does not guarantee a seat.
Tuition is about Rs 2.3 million a year before aid
AKU's fee sheet for 2027 lists tuition and university fees of Rs 2,336,000 a year for residential students, which includes Pakistanis. The admission fee is Rs 109,000 once. The fee sheet is a scanned table, so confirm each figure on the AKU fee page before you pay.
| Item (Pakistan, 2027) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and university fee, per year | Rs 2,336,000 |
| Admission fee, once | Rs 109,000 |
| Security deposit, refundable | Rs 19,000 |
| Student health fee, per year | Rs 32,000 |
| Hostel fee, per month | Rs 45,000 |
AKU says tuition can be paid in monthly instalments. It also says admission is need blind: the admission decision does not look at your family's income. There are no quotas, no reserved seats and no seats for donations. AKU runs a separate financial assistance process. If cost is your worry, read that page before you apply, and compare it with the HEC need-based scholarship at public universities.
Apply online in five steps
You apply on AKU's online portal. Create an account with an email you check often, fill in your details, pay the application fee by HBL voucher or card, upload the receipt and submit. AKU then emails your admit card for the test.
- Go to aku.edu/apply-online and create an account with your email.
- Choose Pakistan, then the Bachelor of Studies in Arts and Sciences.
- Enter your SSC and HSSC marks and upload your B-form or CNIC, marksheets and photo.
- Pay Rs 9,000 before 10 December, or Rs 15,000 after it, by HBL voucher or card.
- Upload the receipt, review the form, submit, and wait for your admit card.
AKU does not carry an application over to the next year. If you are not selected, you must apply again with fresh documents. It can also cancel an admission if any document is found to be false. Look at other options in the same season, such as FAST-NU admission dates and fees and NUST NET registration.
Common questions about AKU's BS in Arts and Sciences
What is the last date to apply to AKU's BS in Arts and Sciences?
The last date is 12 January 2027. The Rs 9,000 early bird fee ends on 10 December 2026, and the fee is Rs 15,000 after that.
Do I need pre-medical or pre-engineering subjects?
No. AKU lists no subject requirement for this programme. You need 70 per cent overall in SSC and HSSC and 65 per cent in English.
Can I apply if my HSSC exam is in 2027?
Yes. AKU accepts provisional applications from students who sit HSSC in summer 2027. You must submit your final result by the date AKU sets.
Can I use my SAT score instead of the AKU test?
Yes. AKU accepts an SAT I score of at least 600 in Math and 600 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, taken between February 2025 and February 2027.
Does AKU give seats on donations or quotas?
No. AKU says there are no quotas, no reserved seats and no admissions against donations. Selection is on merit and is need blind.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 14 October 2026. Dates, fees and eligibility come from AKU's Bachelor of Studies admissions page, its key admission dates page, the FAS admission information booklet and the 2026 and 2027 fee sheet at aku.edu. The fee sheet is laid out in a cramped table, so check the final fee on AKU's page. We have not sat the test or applied.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
